February 7, 2018 News

Birthdays: February 7, Jill Wierman, Pat Derr, Adam North, Mamie Rogers, Owen Keener; February 9, Austin Goddard; February 10, Kim Jay; February 11, Priscilla Jacobs, Serra Pfeifer, Jackson McGaughey, Jeanette McCormick, Kelsee Hirsch; February 12, Bridger Baus; February 13, Seth Albers.

Anniversary: February 10, Michael and Jerridy Morgan.

Jake Kubick, Ellsworth, has been a saddle bronc rider at the McCracken Rodeo the past three years. Last Wednesday he woke up early for his night shift at the Kanopolis salt mine. It was a blessing he awoke early as his finished basement was in flames. The majority of his north wall of the house was on fire and part of the ceiling. It proceeded on to the attic. He foolishly went back into the basement to clear out furniture twice. The fire chief said it was a nasty fire. They put a hole in the roof to attack the flames. The fire was caused by a short to an electrical line. His twin brother was not at home. The house was destroyed and he plans to build back on the same location.

The February 18 Bleeding Kansas program will be “The Bandit Rides Again, Jesse James, Whiskeyhead Ryan and the Glendale Train Robbery” by Ralph A. Monaco,11, Esq., author, historian, living historian and past president and current treasurer of the Jackson County Missouri Historical Society. A book signing will follow.

Mark your calendars for February 17,”Death by Chocolate” at the McCracken Community Building.

Brian Fear was in town for the weekend for the funeral of his Uncle, Bob Fear. He has been hired in Wichita on the anodizing line at Valence Surface Technologies.

As a follow up about sod houses:
Carolyn's grandmother, Tracy Klusener Dennis,of Dubuque, Kanaqs, talked of staying with her grandmother Klusener in her sod house. She did not like the fact that when they were in bed both snakes and spiders would be weaving their way through the sod on the inside of the ceiling. They later put up muslin to keep the dirt and wildlife from falling into the sod house. Grandma lived in a dug out which was a frame top on the hole which was their house. When she was a toddler she went outside where they were using a three legged iron pot for washing clothes. She tipped the pot over on her and was scalded by the boiling water. They put a sheet suspended from the ceiling of the frame top of the house and put her in it. It took many months for her to recover from the burns. She had terrible scars from this incident but she survived to age 83.

McCracken City Library can't decide which book to read for Valentine's Storytime. Come help us to decide between Valensteins by Ethan Long or The Yuckiest, Stinkiest, Best Valentine Ever by Brenda Ferber. Come help us pick one Saturday, the 10th at 10 am. Following the book or books (who knows maybe we'll read them both!) we'll have a fun craft and snack.

The Second Hand Thrift shop was very pleased to see Naomi Kreutzer back to volunteer Friday morning. She had carpal tunnel surgery and also surgery on her elbow - - she is good as new!!

Tanner Higgins accompanied eight of his Kansas State pledge brothers to Phoenix over the week-end. They all attended the Phoenix Open in Arizona.

Kassie Pechanec spent the weekend representing McCracken Rodeo at the Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas Coronation in Hays. Miss Teen Rodeo is Jaylinn Ranae.

It was good seeing and visiting with Lavona Suppes Friday. It seems like the only time I see her is at a funeral.

She said "Yes, to the dress!". Anita Butler, Marlene Funk and Kelly Weber enjoyed meeting Ursula, Anita's daughter, in Downs for wedding dress shopping. Ursula also had her future mother-in-law; maid of honor and another good friend help her with her selection. After trying on a variety of styles Ursula narrowed it down to 2 and then her final choice was applauded by all. After doing a bit more shopping next door all were definitely ready for lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant. All agreed it was a fun process and easier than we thought it might be!

Larry Brock, pastor of the Hill City Methodist Church, came to McCracken Sunday to attend church services with aunt Addie Mills. Following church they were joined by Bob House, Bruce and Sue Davis and all enjoyed lunch at Tracey’s in LaCrosse.

History Notes 1958:

Wheat yields have been the topic of conversation in Rush County. Several patches have yielded top production; Cecil Johnson had a 97 acre field that made 45.4 and Alvin Janke had a patch that went to 60; Perry J. Irvin and Bobby Higgins have enlisted in the Navy and will leave Friday for Omaha; Pete Rixon will return to Ft. Hood after spending a 14 day furlough with his folks; Joyce Showalter was one of ten students who participated for five years in the High Plains Music Camp at Ft. Hays; born to Pat and Frances Casey a son James Francis on July 25;Glenn D. Eisenhour, McCracken weather observer, reported a total of 9.80 inches of rain during the month of July In McCracken; Bill Lovitt married Sharon Kay Struthers in Larned at Sacred Heart Church August 9.

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Patricia Petz:

We have officially ended January and have begun a new month of February in the year 2018.  I just can't believe how fast the month of January went.  I guess when you are kept busy (or get older) the time seems to fly by.  I had a very busy week.  It seemed like every day was filled with multiple things to do.  I subbed every day either at the grade school or high school.  This week, my favorite class was sitting in Mr. Holoperik's room and listening to his lectures in Science and Chemistry.  Most of his lectures brought back memories of when I was in high school and was learning the Periodic Table.  Although I had forgotten most of the symbols and characteristics of the elements it was fun to revisit.

Tuesday evening mom and I attended the basketball game at the LHS.  The teams played against Macksville and it was a very exciting game.

One of my favorite movies to watch when I was a child was, "The Wizard of Oz."  The story was written in 1939 by Frank L. Baum and the story has lived throughout the years as it is shown every year on tv.   The film begins in Kansas where Dorothy Gale lives with her dog Toto, on her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry's farm.  Toto gets in trouble with a mean neighbor Miss Almira Gulch when he bites her.  Unfortunately a tornado comes through the farm and takes Dorothy to the land of Oz.  On Thursday, FHSU sponsored the production of "The Wizard of Oz".  It was a fun time seeing the characters of Dorothy, Toto and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow come to life on a stage right in front of you. The performance was amazing as we watched the special effects, choreography and the classic songs.

Friday, February 2, is typically known as "Groundhog Day" in the United States and Canada.  It first occurred in German communities in Pennsylvania.  The first reports of a Groundhog Day observance was made by the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania in 1886.  Groundhog Day derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, and if it sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks, and if he does not, due to cloudiness, spring season will arrive early. Unfortunately, Friday morning the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil of Pennsylvania saw his shadow and predicted six  more weeks of winter!  This was definitely not the prediction that I wanted to hear!

Friday evening I was able to attend the basketball games that were held at the La Crosse High School.  The games were all very exciting and the teams had us sitting on the edge of our seats most of the games.  

Saturday and Sunday were spent at home taking care of several household chores.  Homemade chili and cinnamon rolls were made on Sunday to edge off the cold of the high winds and snowy morning.  Have a great week everyone.